Couple and new baby bumped from Malaysian flight that crashed

A couple was overcome with emotion after they learned the Malaysian Airlines flight they were supposed to take crashed on the Russia-Ukraine border.

Barry and Izzy Sim and their baby had reservations on flight MH17 but they were bumped to a later KLM flight due to a lack of seats.

As she tightly clutched her baby, Izzy told a Reuters reporter: “I’m shaken. I don’t even know what to do. I’m feeling physically sick. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.”

All 298 passengers and crew members died on the plane that was traveling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur on Thursday afternoon. Evidence indicates the Boeing 777-200 was shot down by a missile from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists, according to the Associated Press.

Barry, who is Scottish and lives with his Malaysian wife in Kuala Lumpur, told the BBC that Malaysian Air could only accommodate one of them so they were moved to the later KLM flight.

After hearing about the crash Izzy was reluctant to board the KLM flight but her husband told the BBC he was “philosophical” about moving on with his life.

“In my mind, lightning never strikes twice in the same place so I am still philosophical that you get on the flight and you go about your life,” Barry told the BBC. “I know my wife doesn’t feel like that. Probably the last thing she wants to do now is fly, especially to Kuala Lumpur.”

Izzy added: “We are very loyal to Malaysia Airlines and we always want to fly with Malaysia Airlines. But, do you know what? At this moment we are so glad to be on that KLM flight rather than that Malaysia Airlines flight.”